I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had

My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High

By: Tony Danza

Narrated by: Tony Danza

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Long before he starred on some of television’s most beloved and long-running series such as Taxi and Who’s the Boss? and went on to distinguish himself in a variety of film and stage roles, Tony Danza was a walking contradiction: an indifferent student who dreamed of being a teacher. Inspiring a classroom of students was an aspiration he put aside for decades until one day it seemed that the most meaningful thing he could do was give his dream a shot.

What followed was a year spent teaching 10th-grade English at Northeast High - Philadelphia’s largest high school with 3,600 students. Entering Northeast’s crowded halls in September 2009, Tony found his way to a classroom filled with 26 students who were determined not to cut him any slack. They cared nothing about “Mr. Danza’s” showbiz credentials, and they immediately put him on the hot seat.

It was only after experiencing abject terror for several weeks - and even dissolving into tears on several occasions - that Tony began to pick up the tricks of how to get kids to learn.

Featuring indelible portraits of students and teachers alike, I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had reveals just how hard it is to keep today’s technologically savvy - and often alienated - students engaged, how impressively committed most teachers are, and the outsized role counseling plays in a teacher’s day, given the psychological burdens many students carry. The audiobook also makes vivid how a modern high school works, showing Tony in a myriad of roles - from lecturing on To Kill a Mockingbird to coaching the football team, organizing a talent show, leading far-flung field trips, and hosting teacher gripe sessions.

Inevitably, Tony’s students steal their way into our hearts - in a way that always feels authentic. A surprisingly poignant account, I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny but is mostly filled with hard-won wisdom and feel-good tears.

©2012 Tony Danza (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Danza shares truth and conviction

Would you listen to I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had again? Why?

I would listen again because of his connection with his students.

What was one of the most memorable moments of I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had?

I don't think there was one memorable moment but many that built on each other to point out the importance of education and how each individual, both students and teachers have strength and dignity to share with each other.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me do both. Tony Danza shared the realities of the classroom and a teacher's struggle to reach each student very well.

Any additional comments?

I was glad that we heard Tony Danza's own voice telling this story.

Excellent book

Tony Danza shares his passion for teaching and his concern for his students. I commend him for returning to CA to be with his family; however I think he did an amazing job during his year at Northeast. It's really a shame the show wasn't given a prime time viewing slot. I think teachers will over the country would have enjoyed it. It shows a side of Tony most of us have never seen.

making a dream come true - with unexpected results

I enjoyed listening to the story of "Mr. Danza". Skepticism gave way as the stories of the student, teachers and Tony's experience progressed. Tony's drive and dedication shone through as did the apparent results.

An interesting insight into people who care in a system that sometimes seems not to.

A light interesting listen that was worth the time.

Entertaining and Enlightening

I loved this book. it was a joy to listen to and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I also feel much more informed about what teachers go through! They are educating and partially raising the people in our country on a stressed out pittance. I was on awe of the dedication of some of the teachers and feel moved to make a difference myself. I would recommend this book to anyone!

Great listen even for non-teachers!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It opened my eyes to the struggles that teachers face. The narration by Mr. Danza makes the stories seem more like an in-person discussion rather than a mere audio book.

I may be a little biased, but ....

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! Teachers will love it because it will make them reflect back upon their own (probably disastrous) first year of teaching. For anyone else, if you'd like to get a small taste of what urban high school education is like, read this book.

I had the interesting experience of sharing my first year of teaching at Northeast High School with Mr. Danza, so in a way this book was very personal for me. Although I already had three years of experience under my belt, it was my first foray into urban education. Additionally, the following year, I had several of Mr. Danza's students in my own English class. So for me, this was like reading about home. I enjoyed the book so much more than I enjoyed the television series. It seemed more honest and definitely more real.

From the perspective of someone who wants to be a professor in a college of education at some point in the future, this book is crucial. Although Mr. Danza only had one class of students to worry about, his experiences -- his fears, his successes, his failures, his joys-- are all very real.

I also thought it was a masterful decision to have Tony read his own book. His voice is absolutely wonderful, his inflection perfect, and of course since these are own experiences, you can't ask for a more honest and personal style of reading. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and truthfully, I think that maybe Mr. Danza has found a new niche! I would definitely listen to him read another book.

What other book might you compare I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had to and why?

Mr. Danza's book is sort of like Jonathan Kozol "lite". It lacks the authenticity of Kozol's more research-oriented books, and definitely the political angles, but the emotion is still there.

Which scene was your favorite?

Towards the end of the book, there is a scene where Mr. Danza reflects back on his year of teaching and is saddened and moved to tears at the thought of his experience coming to an end. This was an especially poignant scene, one that teachers everywhere can relate to.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Of course! Not just because these students were my students too. The book is very well written and emotionally poignant.

An Ode to teachers everywhere

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Teaching is one of the most important professions in the world. Mr. Danza makes it real.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tony Danza, obviously. After that, every student and teacher with whom he interacted. (I taught English. Can you tell?)

What about Tony Danza’s performance did you like?

Having the author read a story gives it the passion he/she felt when writing the story. I felt that very clearly in this narration.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I shed tears at the end when he talked about the rewards of teaching. It truly is for the students, certainly not for money or the rules placed on teachers. I speak from experience.

Any additional comments?

I wish everyone from the president of the U. S. to the lowliest among us would spend a year in the classroom, any classroom. I truly believe things would change for the better in education. These kids are our future leaders. They are our future, period. If lawmakers understood what happens in the classroom and in the homes of these students, we could give them the tools and help they need to make the world a better place for all of us.

Loved it!

What made the experience of listening to I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had the most enjoyable?

Enjoyed having Tony Danza as the narrator, and appreciated his honesty.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed every minute of this book!

What a great story.

What made the experience of listening to I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had the most enjoyable?

I never thought too much about Tony Danza, I never really watched him on TV back when he was all over the place, but I now know why he was (and is) a star. What a quality guy, able to get so involved in these young peoples' lives and enrich them in such a great way. Just his one year with these kids probably did so much to change their lives for the better. What a brave thing to do when he really didn't have to. Very touching story, and I don't get teary very often.

A Fantastic Listen for anyone who believes in the

This book was well written, emotional and real. As a teacher, married to a teacher and from a family of teachers, I have a firm belief in the importance of this job and am saddened by the red tape and hoop-jumping of bureaucracy as well as the difficulty of reaching students on the fringe. This book captures both the feelings of the despair of failure and the hope of success that keeps us coming back everyday. Tony Danza's voice is the perfect delivery for this memoir, too. There is something about the thick Brooklyn accent and the gravely tone of his voice telling his own story that makes it so much more real and emotional. I have recommended this book to many of my teacher friends but I hope that non-teachers read it, too. The whole reason he started this was to bring change and hope to education in our country and the more people who read it and understand what goes into teaching, the more hope there is for change.
A fabulous listen!